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. 2025 Mar;37(2-3):208-217.
doi: 10.1177/10105395241306488. Epub 2025 Jan 28.

Epidemiology of Cancer in the Fiji Islands: 2010 to 2018

Carol Kartika Naidu  1 , Nicola Wiseman  1 , Devina Nand  2 , Neil Harris  1
Affiliations

Epidemiology of Cancer in the Fiji Islands: 2010 to 2018

Carol Kartika Naidu et al. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Cancer is a global public health concern with increasing incidence and mortality rates, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). Among the PICTs, Fiji faces a growing burden of cancer. This study aimed to analyze cancer incidence and mortality data in Fiji from 2010 to 2018 to identify trends and provide an update on the current cancer-related statistics in the Fiji Islands. The top three cancer incidence rates among women were breast, cervical, and endometrial cancer, whereas prostate, liver, and lung cancer were the most prevalent among men. Notably, the central division had higher cancer incidence rates, whereas the northern division had a disproportionately higher mortality rate. Factors contributing to these trends may include lifestyle behaviors, limited access to health care in certain regions, and low awareness. Although this study has limitations due to data quality, it emphasizes the need for targeted interventions, accurate data reporting, and improved cancer treatment delivery to reduce the burden of cancer in Fiji.

Keywords: Fiji; breast cancer; cancer epidemiology; cervical cancer; early detection; public health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Trends in rates for the top three cancer sites by sex, Fiji Islands, 2010 to 2018. Rates are presented for top 3 cancer incidence in females (a), top 3 cancer mortality in females (b), top 3 cancer incidence in males (c) and top 3 cancer mortality in males (d).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates for the leading cancer sites presented by sex and age groups. Cancers presented are breast cancer (a), cervical cancer (b), corpus uteri cancer (c), stomach cancer (d), liver cancer (e) and prostate cancer (f).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Geospatial maps of cancer mortality rates in Fiji, over a span of 8 years—2010 to 2018.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Geospatial maps of cancer incidence rates in Fiji, over a span of 8 years—2010 to 2018.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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